Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday expressed Bangladesh’s steadfast commitment to working together with Mauritius to further deepen the bilateral ties as she delivered a video message marking the naming of a street after Bangabandhu in Port Luis, the capital of Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation.

“We stand committed to walking the path together, as it is said in Mauritius ‘lamain danslamain’ (hand in hand), to take the relationship to a newer height,” she said in the message.

The prime minister said Bangladesh and Mauritius are enjoying excellent relations at both bilateral and multilateral levels and share same values, principles and aspirations when it comes to upholding the welfare and prosperity of the peoples of the two countries.

“We support each other in the regional and international forums … I believe, Bangladesh being the Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association next year, will work towards consolidating our ties of cooperation and understanding further in the days ahead,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said she is very happy to learn that a street is being named after the Greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in Port Louis, the capital city of the paradise Island of Mauritius.

“On behalf of the government, the people of Bangladesh and on my personal behalf, I would like to sincerely thank the Government of the Republic of Mauritius, its friendly people and all those who worked hard for this task to happen braving the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.

The prime minister said it is a very proud moment for the Bangladeshi nationals currently living in Mauritius as ‘Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Street’ symbolizes the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

Sheikh Hasina, elder daughter of Bangabandhu, paid deepest homage to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on this august moment.

She also recalled the four national leaders, three million martyrs, and two hundred thousand women who lost their honour as well as paid tributes to the valiant freedom fighters, who fought for the freedom of Bangladesh.

“After a nine-month bloody war, under the charismatic leadership of Bangabandhu, Bangladesh earned victory on 16 December 1971,” she said.

The premier said the year 2020 is of great significance to Bangladesh as the nation is celebrating ‘Mujib Borsho’ to mark the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation at home and abroad.

She said Bangabandhu dreamt of a happy and prosperous ‘Golden Bengal’, free from exploitation and oppression. “Now we’re materializing his dream into reality by our hard work and relentless efforts,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina went on saying: “We’re advancing at a steady pace towards materializing our ‘Vision-2021’ and ‘Vision-2041’, and thereby reaching the goal of ‘Golden Bengal’ as envisioned by our Father of the Nation.”

Pointing out that Bangladesh is harnessing the potential of ‘Blue Economy’ in advancing the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and the seas, she said, “We want to be benefitted from the vast experience of Mauritius in this regard.”

The premier wished the people of both Bangladesh and Mauritius continued peace, progress and prosperity.